Sexual Assault Help Center Client Information Sheet

Safety is a priority of our program. To respect your privacy and help support your safety and right to make your own decisions, we will make every effort to keep what you tell us confidential. Confidential information includes:

- Any written or spoken communication between a person seeking/receiving service and any program staff, volunteer, or board member. 

- Any records of written information identifying a person to whom services are provided.

- Any information about services provided to an individual.

We will not disclose anything about you without your permission, unless a legal exception exists. Legally, we are obligated to release confidential information when required by court of law or subpoenaed. We will immediately inform you in the event that this occurs. 

We are mandated reporters meaning that we are required by law to contact the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHR) in the event that there is suspicion of child abuse or neglect and/or abuse and neglect of a mentally incapacitated individual.  We are also required by law to contact the local law enforcement when there is a "threat of life" to include suicidal behavior and/or threat to harm others that would result in serious physical injury or death.

It is your choice to decide what information you share about yourself and you may change your mind and withdraw the release of information at any time. You do not have to give permission or sign a release of information in order to receive services. It is completely your decision. You may find it helpful for us to share specific and limited information with other agencies and programs. You can choose to give permission so that we can release specific information about you. If you decide that we can share your information, this will be done by signing a Release of Confidential Information form. However, we will still protect your privacy and confidentiality to the best of our abilities. Please note that if you sign a release of information, you do not give up your right to have the released information protected under other laws or rules. 

You, as the client, have the right to:

1. Receive respectful assistance. 

2. Experience a safe setting, free from physical, sexual, or emotional abuse.

3. Refuse assistance or a particular intervention strategy. 

4. Ask questions at any time.

5. Know how available the advocate/supportive counselor is to see you or what the waiting period is. 

6. Have information regarding the advocate/supportive counselor's areas of specialization and limitations.

7. Have consults with each advocate to choose which one you feel most comfortable with.

8. Talk about any part of your assistance with anyone you choose. 

9. Be provided information about limitations of confidentiality and mandatory reporting. 

10. Disclose any personal information and refuse to answer any questions asked. 

11. Require the advocate/supportive counselor to send a report regarding your assistance with your written authorization only. 

12. Have access to summaries of written and taped files about you at your request, when legally possible. 

13. Terminate assistance at any time. 

Advocacy and supportive counseling is confidential. Information that is shared by you in an advocacy/supportive counseling session will be treated with the highest regard for confidentiality. 

SAHC is an equal opportunity agency, this program does not, by act or deed, discriminate against any person desiring assistance based on race, creep, national origin, sex, sexual orientation, age, disability, or socio-economic background. 

The staff and advocates of the Sexual Assault Help Center strive to provide the most appropriate and sensitive delivery of services to the clients served. 

As a recipient of services through SAHC, if you have a complaint regarding a service and/or the service provider you are asked to follow the complaint procedure listed below. 

1. When possible, address the complaint on the level it has occurred (with the appropriate staff person and/or advocate).

2. If you are not satisfied with the result of the first procedure or if you feel it is not possible to address complaint on the level where it is occurring, you can contact the Executive Director of SAHC at (304) 234-1783 for an informal hearing on your complaint. The staff/advocate who is involved in the complaint will be informed that a probably may/does exist. 

3. If the solution to the complaint is not satisfactory to the recipient of services, a written appeal can be submitted to the SAHC Board of Directors' Personnel Committee. This complaint with then be presented to the Personnel Committee no later than the next scheduled board meeting. 

4. The complainant will be information of what action will be taken at that point. 

Levels of Services and Supervision

SAHC Board of Directors

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SAHC Executive Director

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SAHC Victim Advocates
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SAHC Volunteer Advocates 

It is my understanding that these services may consist of child sexual abuse prevention education, advocacy, and/or supportive counseling services requested as a result of alleged or proven child sexual abuse. 

The services of SAHC are provided at NO COST to the participants, are entered into VOLUNTARILY (unless otherwise court ordered), can be TERMINATED at any time by the parent/legal guardian and/or SAHC. 

It is my understanding that these services may consist of sexual abuse prevention education, advocacy, and/or supportive counseling services requested as a result of alleged or proven sexual abuse. 

The services of SAHC are provided at NO COST to the participants, are entered into VOLUNTARILY (unless otherwise court ordered), and can be TERMINATED at any time by the legal guardian and/or SAHC.